Corkscrew Cafe

This is located in Carmel Valley. It's not a fancy place from the outside. The decor an inside vibe is interesting and they have a nice outside seating area which I really enjoy. The food is absolutely top-notch. Every time I go to Carmel I make a point to have lunch at this location. The Last time I was there was the first time I really remember having exceptional service. Our waitress was great.

My wife and I were searching for wineries in the Carmel Valley and stumbled upon the Corkscrew Cafe, located about 12 miles east of Highway 1 along Carmel Valley Road. While I’m not certain of any formal affiliation, the restaurant serves wines from the neighboring Georis and Cowgirl wineries. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating, and we opted to sit outside to enjoy the beautiful weather (a perfect 69°). We were seated at a table for two next to a small water feature and pond. The atmosphere was excellent—ideal for a late lunch or early dinner. Because we were seated behind the restaurant, traffic noise from Carmel Valley Road was minimal and pleasantly masked by the gentle sound of the water feature. We ordered a bottle of Georis Cabernet Franc to share. It was an approachable, well-balanced red—full-bodied without being heavy, smooth on the palate, and dry enough to pair nicely with food. For appetizers, we chose the Calamaretti Fritti and the Bread Service. The calamaretti arrived with both a light tartar sauce and a cocktail sauce. The bread service was excellent. The bread arrived in two pieces, each roughly four inches square—almost flatbread-like, but thicker—with an open, lacy crumb and a well-burnished crust, each piece approximately an inch thick. It was served with an outstanding olive oil dipping blend of balsamic, chili flakes, parmesan, garlic, and basil—a perfect pairing. For our main, we shared the Margherita pizza, topped with traditional sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and cherry tomatoes. The pizza had a thin crust and measured about 12 inches in diameter—ideal for sharing. The slightly oven-roasted tomatoes were a standout. Of course, we had to top off the visit with a shared lave cake and vanilla Gelato. We were very happy to have found this little gem and will definitely be back. Service was excellent—attentive without being intrusive. Highly recommended.

Awesome food. Great spot for lunch in walking distance to some great wine tasting areas.

Stopped by Corkscrew Café in Carmel Valley and ordered the Salad Pizza — easily one of the best things on the menu. The crust had that perfect wood-fired char, crisp on the outside but soft inside, layered with mozzarella, burrata, roasted red peppers, and thin prosciutto. The fresh arugula and shaved Parmesan on top gave it a bright, peppery bite, and the drizzle of spicy honey tied it all together. Beautifully balanced between rich and fresh. Enjoyed it with a glass of local white wine on their charming patio — olive trees, and valley sunshine made it the perfect lunch setting to hang out. Highly recommend.

Adorable little spot with amazing service and delicious food. We're traveling and I'm so glad we stopped at this place. Service was fast, server was attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu. We felt a little out of place in our sweatshirts but we were treated as if we were wearing ballgown and suits. Pizza is absolutely phenomenal, woodfired so of course is going to have a little char because, duh. Ceaser salad was also delicious. I loved the chalk walls in the back area and the wine bottles used for water. Just an overall amazing experience